Near-Ultrahigh Pressure Processing of Continental Crust: Miocene Crustal Xenoliths from the Pamir

Xenoliths of subducted crustal origin hosted by Miocene ultrapotassicigneous rocks in the southern Pamir provide important new informationregarding the geological processes accompanying tectonism duringthe Indo-Eurasian collision. Four types have been studied: sanidineeclogites (omphacite, garnet, sanidine, quartz, biotite, kyanite),felsic granulites (garnet, quartz, sanidine and kyanite), basalticeclogites (omphacite and garnet), and a glimmerite (biotite,clinopyroxene and sanidine). Apatite, rutile and carbonate arethe most abundant minor phases. Hydrous phases (biotite andphengite in felsic granulites and basaltic eclogites, amphibolesin mafic and sanidine eclogites) and plagioclase form minorinclusions in garnet or kyanite. Solid-phase thermobarometryreveals recrystallization at mainly ultrahigh temperatures of1000–1100°C and near-ultrahigh pressures of 2·5–2·8GPa. Textures, parageneses and mineral compositions suggestderivation of the xenoliths from subducted basaltic, tonaliticand pelitic crust that experienced high-pressure dehydrationmelting, K-rich metasomatism, and solid-state re-equilibration.The timing of these processes is constrained by zircon agesfrom the xenoliths and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages of the host volcanic rocksto 57–11 Ma. These xenoliths reveal that deeply subductedcrust may undergo extensive dehydration-driven partial melting,density-driven differentiation and disaggregation, and sequestrationwithin the mantle. These processes may also contribute to thealkaline volcanism observed in continent-collision zones. KEY WORDS: xenolith; high-pressure; subduction; Pamir; Tibet     

Eclogite–gneiss complex of the Muya block (East Siberia): age,mineralogy, geochemistry,and petrology

Results of study of eclogite–gneiss complex of the Muya Block (East Siberia) are presented. Several structural types of the studied eclogites have been recognized. Kyanitic eclogite has been found for the first time. The host granite-gneisses are two-mica and biotite varieties, mainly garnet-bearing. The exposure of eclogites from different depths of the subducted plate at the present-day denudation level might be the reason for the wide range of the equilibrium temperatures of the Muya block eclogites (590–740 °C). The Sm–Nd dating of the eclogites and host gneisses showed the Neoproterozoic age of high-pressure metamorphism (～630 Ma). The model age (T_DM) of the eclogites (720 Ma) differs considerably from the model age of the host gneisses (>1.3 Ga). The geochemical features of the eclogites point to the mobility of LILE (Rb, Cs, Ba, K) and LREE during their interaction with fluids, whereas the gneisses in the same process showed the mobility of LILE only. The oxygen isotope composition of minerals in the eclogites varies over a narrow range (δ¹⁸O = 5.5–3.9) and is close to the average mantle value, which evidences a negligible interaction between the eclogite protoliths and meteoric or sea water. The study of fluid inclusions in quartz from the eclogites and host gneisses showed a predominance of liquid-nitrogen inclusions in the former and carbon dioxide inclusions in the latter.     

青藏高原羌塘中部高压变质带的研究进展及存在问题

羌塘中部高压变质带是目前青藏高原内部延伸规模最大的高压变质带,是理解特提斯演化的关键地质记录。高压变质带主要沿龙木措-双湖-澜沧江缝合带一线出露,主要由榴辉岩、蓝片岩、石榴子石多硅白云母片岩及少量高压麻粒岩组成。其中,榴辉岩主要出露于戈木、果干加年山、冈玛错、巴青及滇西的勐库地区,主要呈透镜状产于石榴子石多硅白云母片岩中。除巴青地区的榴辉岩外,其余地区榴辉岩的峰期变质温度较低且含有硬柱石及其假象,峰期变质条件位于硬柱石榴辉岩相稳定区域,是洋壳冷俯冲的产物。虽然对于戈木地区榴辉岩锆石成因仍有争议,但已有资料显示,羌塘中部高压变质带主体变质时代集中在晚三叠世,其相关高压变质岩石的折返可能与洋盆的闭合及随后的陆-陆碰撞相关。近期研究表明,羌塘中部可能存在二叠纪低温高压变质岩,折返于大洋俯冲阶段,可能与洋岛或海山的俯冲及引发的俯冲侵蚀作用相关。此外,羌塘香桃湖地区出露早古生代的基性高压麻粒岩,是冈瓦纳大陆北缘陆块拼贴的记录。因此,对羌塘中部高压变质带进行进一步系统的研究工作,对于深入理解冈瓦纳北缘构造演化及古特提斯的俯冲与闭合过程具有重要的意义。     

Thermobarometry of phengite-bearing eclogites in the Dabie Mountains of central China

Pressure–temperature conditions for formation of the peak metamorphic mineral assemblages in phengite-bearing eclogites from Dabieshan have been assessed through a consideration of Fe²⁺–Mg²⁺ partitioning between garnet–omphacite and garnet–phengite pairs and of the reaction equilibrium celadonite+pyrope+grossular=muscovite+diopside, which incorporates an evaluation of the extent of the strongly pressure-dependent inverse Tschermak's molecule substitution in the phengites. For the latter equilibrium, the calibration and recommended activity–composition models indicated by 45 ) have been employed and importantly yield results consistent with petrographic evidence for the stability at peak conditions of coesite in certain samples and quartz in others. Confirmation that in some phengite-eclogite samples peak silicate mineral assemblages have equilibrated at confining pressures sufficient for the stability of coesite (and in some cases even diamond) rather negates previous suggestions that coesite may have been stabilized in only very localized, possibly just intracrystalline, domains. Inherent difficulties in the evaluation of peak metamorphic temperatures from Fe²⁺–Mg²⁺ partitioning between mineral phases, due to uncertainties over Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ ratios in the minerals (especially omphacites), and to re-equilibration during extensive retrograde overprinting in some samples, are also assessed and discussed. Our results indicate the existence in south-central Dabieshan of phengite eclogites with markedly different equilibration conditions within two structurally distinct tectonometamorphic terranes. Thus our data do not support earlier contentions that south-central Dabieshan comprises a structurally coherent continental-crust terrane with a regional P–T gradient signalling previous deepest-level subduction in the north. Instead, we recognize the Central Dabie ultra-high-pressure (coesite eclogite-bearing) terrane to be structurally overlain by a Southern Dabie high-pressure (quartz eclogite-bearing) terrane at a major southerly dipping shear zone along which late orogenic extensional collapse appears to have eliminated at least 20 km of crustal section.     

The Valais units in Savoy (France): a key area for understanding the palaeogeography and the tectonic evolution of the Western Alps

The Valais units in Savoy (Zone des Brèches de Tarentaise) have been re-mapped in great detail and are subject of combined stratigraphic, structural and petrological investigations summarized in this contribution. The sediments and rare relics of basement, together with Cretaceous age mafic and ultramafic rocks of the Valais palaeogeographical domain, represent the heavily deformed relics of the former distal European margin (External Valais units) and an ocean–continent transition (Internal Valais unit or Versoyen unit) that formed during rifting. This rifting led to the opening of the Valais ocean, a northern branch of the Alpine Tethys. Post-rift sediments referred to as “Valais trilogy” stratigraphically overlie both External and Internal Valais successions above an angular unconformity formed in Barremian to Aptian times, providing robust evidence for the timing of the opening of the Valais ocean. The Valais units in Savoy are part of a second and more external mid-Eocene high-pressure belt in the Alps that sutured the Briançonnais microcontinent to Europe. Top-N D1-deformation led to the formation of a nappe stack that emplaced the largely eclogite-facies Internal Valais unit (Versoyen) onto blueschist-facies External Valais units. The latter originally consisted of, from internal to external, the Petit St. Bernard unit, the Roc de l’Enfer unit, the Moûtiers unit and the Quermoz unit. Ongoing top-N D2-thrusting and folding substantially modified this nappe stack. Post 35 Ma D3 folding led to relatively minor modifications of the nappe stack within the Valais units but was associated with substantial top-WNW thrusting of the Valais units over the Dauphinois units along the Roselend thrust during W-directed indentation of the Adria block contributing to the formation of the arc of the Western Alps.     

The role of eclogites in the redistribution of water in the subcontinental mantle of the Siberian craton: results of determination of the water content in minerals from the Udachnaya pipe eclogites

A comprehensive study of 26 mafic mantle xenoliths from the Udachnaya kimberlite pipe was carried out. The contents of major and trace elements, equilibrium temperature parameters, and water content in the rock-forming minerals were determined. The temperatures of formation of the studied rocks are estimated at 800–1300 °C. According to IR spectroscopy data, the water content in clinopyroxenes from the studied eclogites varies from values below the detection limit to 99 ppm. The IR spectra of garnets lack bands of water. The water content in clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene from garnet websterite is 72 and 8 ppm, respectively. The water content in the average rock, calculated from the ratio of the rock-forming minerals, varies from a few to 55 ppm. No relationship among the water content, equilibrium temperatures, and rock composition is established. The low water contents in the eclogites are close to the earlier determined water contents in peridotites from the same pipe and are, most likely, due to the re-equilibration of the eclogites with the rocks of the peridotitic lithospheric mantle. The dehydration of the protolith during its subduction and the partial melting of eclogites before their removal by kimberlitic magma to the surface might be an additional cause of the low water contents in the mantle eclogite xenoliths.     

The geochemistry and isotopic age of eclogites from the Belomorian Belt (Kola Peninsula): evidence for subducted Archean oceanic crust

We present results of geochemical studies and isotope dating of eclogites and associated rocks from the Kuru-Vaara quarry, Belomorian Belt, Northeastern Baltic Shield. The southern and northern eclogites are similar in geochemical features. Their protoliths were primitive, mainly high-Mg basalts of oceanic affinity derived from a primitive mantle source rather than from a depleted mantle source characteristic of modern MORB. The post-eclogitic intrusive rocks show obvious evidence for crustal contamination. The eclogite-hosting tonalitetrondhjemite-granodiorite (TTG) gneisses form a coherent series including high-Al and low-Al varieties. The trace element data show that the TTG series formed through the hydrous partial melting of the southern eclogites in the presence of garnet and amphibole in the field of the rutile stability (>15 kbar). Zircons from the southern eclogites exhibit features of their strong re-equilibration by coupled dissolution–repre-cipitation processes but have locally preserved patches with a primary magmatic zoning. The geochemistry of the patches points to the oceanic provenance of protolithic zircons; their isotope dating (SHRIMP-II) yielded a concordant age of 2821 ± 21 Ma. Zircons from the trondhjemite gneiss with geochemical features of Archean adakite were dated at 2805 ± 11 Ma, which suggests the syneclogitic facies origin of the TTG melts. The concordant age of high-pressure zircons from the northern eclogites is 2722 ± 21 Ma, close to the age of the earlier described Gridino eclogites. The overview of the isotopically dated eclogite bodies show the presence of at least three temporally distinct groups of eclogites in the Belomorian Belt, ～2.86–2.87, ～2.82–2.80, and ～2.72 Ga, which is in a good accordance with the known isotopic ages for major crust-forming events in the belt. This, in turn, implies a close genetic relationship between the eclogites and the TTG origin, which might be consistent with the model of the short intermitted events of subduction of the thickened Archean oceanic crust. The presence of HP/UHP eclogites of different ages and the structural style of the Belomorian Belt permit it to be assigned to megamélange belts.     

Eclogite Facies Regional Metamorphism of Hydrous Mafic Rocks in the Central Alpine Adula Nappe

The Adula Nappe is a slice of Pre-Mesozoic continental basementaffected by Early Alpine (Mesozoic or Lower Tertiary) high-pressuremetamorphism. Mineral compositions in mafic rocks containingomphacite + garnet + quartz record a continuous regional trendof increasing recrystalliza tion temperatures and pressuresthat can be ascribed to this regional high-pressure metamorphicevent. P-T estimates derived from mineral compositions gradefrom about 12 kb and 500 ?C or less in the north of the nappeto more than 20 kb/800 ?C in the south. The regional P-T trend is associated with a mineralogical transitionfrom assemblages containing additional albite and abundant amphiboles,epidote minerals, and white micas in the north (omphacite-garnetamphibolites) to kyanite eclogites containing smaller amountsof hornblende and zoi.site in the south. Textures and mineralcompositional data show that these hydrous and anhydrous silicatesassociated with omphacite + garnet + quartz arc primary partsof the high-pressure assem blages. Observed phase relationsbetween these primary silicates, theoretical Schreinemakersanalysis, and the thermobarometric results, together indicatethat the regional transition from omphacite amphibolites tokyanite eclogites can be described by two simplified reactions: alb+epi+hbl=omp+kya+qtz+par (H₂O-conserving) (15) par+epi+hbl+qtz=omp+kya+H₂O (dehydration) (12) which have the character of isograd reactions. Local variations of water activity (a_H2O) as indicated by isofacialmineral assemblages, and the H₂O character of the reaction (15),are interpreted to reflect largely H and predominantly fluid-absenthigh-pressure metamorphism within the northern part of the nappe.The omphacite amphibolites and paragonite eclogites in thisarea are thought to have formed by H₂O reactions from Pre-Mesozoichigh-grade amphibolites, i.e. from protoliths of similar bulkH₂O-countent. The second ‘isograd’ (12) is interpreted to markthe regional transition from largely fluid-absent metamorphismin the north to fluid-present metamorphism in the south, wheremetamorphic pressures and temperatures in excess of 12-15kband 500-600?C were sufficient for prograde in-situ dehydrationof similar hydrous protoliths to kyanite eclogites. The observationof abundant veins, filled with quartz+kyanite+omphacite, suggeststhat a free fluid coexisted locally with the kyanite eclogitesof the southern Adula Nappe at some time during progressivedehydration.     

Eclogites with a short-lived granulite facies overprint in the Moldanubian Zone,Czech Republic: petrology,geochemistry and diffusion modelling of garnet zoning

The petrology and geochemistry of a newly discovered suite of high-pressure garnet + clinopyroxene-bearing rocks from the Monotonous Series of the Moldanubian Zone of the Bohemian Massif, southwest Czech Republic have been investigated. Three types [common eclogites, quartz ± kyanite ± (clino)zoisite eclogites and garnet-hornblende-clinopyroxenites] are distinguished by petrography and geochemistry. All underwent a significant degree of partial breakdown under granulite and amphibolite facies conditions during exhumation. Important features include the growth of orthopyroxene in breakdown domains after garnet and omphacite and anorthite + spinel ± corundum ± exceedingly peraluminous sapphirine replacing kyanite. Garnet zoning and inclusion patterns support a prograde evolution from low pressures for at least some of the samples. The post-eclogite stage granulite facies overprint indicates that high temperatures prevailed during exhumation, but preservation of zoning in some garnets and the results of diffusion modelling suggest that this overprint took place over a very short time-scale. The geochemical and petrological results allow characteristic differences to be recognized between these eclogites and metabasites found in other tectonic units of South Bohemia and consequently the assigning of all high-pressure rocks to a single, now disrupted, tectonic unit is a gross simplification that seriously misrepresents the tectono-metamorphic history of the region.     

Isotopic-geochemical evidence for crustal contamination of eclogites in the Kokchetav subduction-collision zone

This paper reports isotopic and geochemical studies of eclogites from the western ultrahigh pressure (UHP) and eastern high-pressure (HP) blocks of the Kokchetav subduction-collision zone. These HP and UHP eclogites exhumed in two stages: (1) The rocks of the western block metamorphosed within the field of diamond stability (e.g., Kumdy-Kol and Barchy); (2) In contrast, the metamorphic evolution of the eastern block reached the pressure peak within the stability field of coesite (e.g., Kulet, Chaglinka, Sulu-Tyube, Daulet, and Borovoe). The eclogites vary widely in the ratios of incompatible elements and in the isotope ratios of Nd (¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.51137-0.513180) and Sr (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.703930.78447). The Sulu-Tyube eclogites display isotope-geochemical features close to N-MORB, while those from the other sites are compositionally similar to E-type MORB or island arc basalts (IAB). The model ages T_Nd(DM) of eclogites vary between 1.95 and 0.67 Ga. The Sulu-Tyube eclogite yields the youngest age; it has the values of ε_Nd(T) (7.2) and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.70393) close to the depleted mantle values. The crustal input to the protolith of the Kokchetav eclogites is evident on the ε_Nd(T)-⁸⁶Sr/⁸⁷Sr and ε_Nd(T)-T plots. The eclogites make up a trend from DM to country rocks. Some eclogites from the Kulet, Kumdy-Kol, and Barchy localities display signs of partial melting, such as high Sm/Nd (0.65-0.51) and low (La/Sm)_N (0.34-0.58) values. The equilibrium temperatures of these eclogites are higher than 850 °C. The geochemical features of eclogites testify to the possibility of the eclogite protolith formation in the tectonic setting of passive continental rift margin subducted to depths over 120 km.     

Coexisting amphiboles in an eclogite from the Western Alps: new constraints on the miscibility gap between sodic and calcic amphiboles

Abstract Crystal-chemical relationships between coexisting sodic and calcic amphiboles have been studied in eclogitic metagabbros from the Aosta Valley, Western Alps. Textural analysis gives evidence of three successive high-pressure parageneses:
1. Pre-kinematic high-grade blueschist assemblages, preserved as polymineralic inclusions in garnet cores and made of glaucophane and actinolite (stage A).
2. Synkinematic eclogite assemblages, composed of garnet + omphacite + glaucophane ± actinolite ± white mica ° Clinozoisite + quartz + rutile (stage B).
3. Post-kinematic epitactic overgrowths of barroisitic amphibole on glaucophane and actinolite (stage C).
P–T conditions of the eclogitic metamorphism have been estimated at around 500–550°C, 16 kbar.
Glaucophane and actinolite coexist as discrete grains in stage A and B assemblages. This texture and the chemistry of the amphiboles unambiguously denotes the existence of a miscibility gap between sodic and calcic amphiboles (from Na^M4= 0.80 in actinolite to Na^M4= 1.70 in glaucophane at T = 500–550°C). A comparison with published analyses allows a new solvus along the glaucophane–actinolite join to be drawn.
The later barroisitic amphibole (stage C) exhibits strong chemical zonation indicating disequilibrium growth. This amphibole cannot either be used to define a miscibility gap with glaucophane or actinolite or be considered as an intermediate stage between these two end-members.     

TEM and HRTEM Study of Microstructures in Omphacite from UHP Eclogites at Shima, Dabie Mountains, China

Transmission electron microscope (TEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) analyses have been performed on omphacite from ultra-high pressure (UHP) eclogites at the locality of Shima, Dabie Mountains, China. TEM reveals that the microstructures consist dominantly of dislocation substructures, including free dislocations, loops, tiltwalls, dislocation tangles and subboundaries. They were produced by high-temperature ductile deformation, of which the main mechanism was dislocation creep. Antiphase domain (APD) boundaries are common planar defects; an age of 470±6 Ma for UHP eclogite formation has been obtained from the equiaxial size of APDs in ordered omphacites from Shima, coincident with ages given by single-zircon U-Pb dating (471±2 Ma). HRTEM reveals C2/c and P2ln space groups in different parts of one single omphacite crystal, and no exsolution is observed in the studied samples, which is attributed to rapid cooling. It is suggested that the UHP eclogites underwent a long     

Debris-flow Indicator for an early warning system in the Aosta valley region

Natural Hazards - Aosta Valley, an Alpine region in north-western Italy, has an early warning system (EWS) that issues hydrogeological alerts based on hydrological modelling and rainfall thresholds...     

Analysis of rockfall risk on mountainside roads: evaluation of the effect of protection devices

Many kilometres of roads are close to rock slopes that are prone to rockfalls. The fulfilment of safety requirements in such situations is a multidimensional design process involving public and private technicians in the assessment and management of the problem. In this paper, a rockfall risk management approach has been applied to the road infrastructure network of the Regione Autonoma Valle D’Aosta, in order to calculate the level of risk and of its reduction using rockfall protection devices. In order to better understand the methodology, a comparative analysis of road accidents in Aosta Valley has been discussed. The road risk assessment was developed taking into account the absence of rockfall protection devices, and when they are present, different levels of efficacy have been considered.     

Geochemistry of Eclogites and Metapelites from Trescolmen,Central Alps,as Observed from Major and Trace Elements and Oxygen Isotopes

Eclogites are often the only tangible high-pressure evidence we have from a paleosubduction zone, and they potentially preserve important geochemical information from the descending slab. Selected Group B/C eclogites and metapelites from the Trescolmen locality in the Adula nappe in the central Swiss Alps were chosen for a detailed investigation to determine oxygen isotope ratios and major- and trace-element compositions of the main rock-forming minerals. Complex major-element zonation patterns in garnet porphyroblasts indicate a pre-Alpine, medium-pressure growth history coupled with a high-pressure modification during the Alpine orogeny. Garnet REE patterns are notably HREE depleted in rim regions, with high overall REE content, particularly in the cores of grains. Omphacites are relatively homogenous in major elements, and show LREE- and HREE-depleted patterns, but with overall abundances of REEs lower than in garnets. These patterns are best explained by partitioning of the HREEs into garnet and the LREEs into zoisite. Oxygen-isotope systematics indicate limited fluid flow in eclogites and surrounding metapelites. δ¹⁸O values of quartz and garnet at the interface between eclogites and metapelites are indistinguishable and point to fluid exchange. Oxygen equilibrium conditions among rock-forming minerals, particularly between quartz and garnet in eclogites and metapelites, were reached, and fractionation indicates temperatures of ～600°C. The δ¹⁸O of unaltered eclogites (5.5 to 7.5 ‰) suggests a basaltic, MORB-type protolith.     

Geochemistry of xenolithic eclogites from West Africa, part 2: origins of the high MgO eclogites

Oxygen isotope, mineral trace element, and measured and reconstructed whole-rock compositions are reported for the high MgO eclogite xenolith suite (16 to 20 wt% MgO in the whole rock) from the Koidu Kimberlite complex, Sierra Leone. In contrast to the previously published data for low MgO eclogites (6 to 13 wt% MgO) from this area, high MgO eclogites equilibrated at higher temperatures (1080 to 1130°C vs. 890 to 930°C) have only mantlelike δ¹⁸O and show variable degrees of light rare earth element (REE) enrichment. Analyses of multiple mineral generations suggest that the heterogeneous REE patterns of the high MgO eclogites reflect variable degrees of metasomatic overprinting. High MgO and Al₂O₃ contents of the eclogites suggest a cumulate origin, either as high-pressure (2 to 3 GPa) garnet-pyroxene cumulates or low-pressure (<1 GPa) plagioclase-pyroxene-olivine cumulates. Trace element modeling suggests a low-P origin for eclogites with flat heavy REE patterns and a high-P origin for eclogites with fractionated heavy REE. Flat heavy REE patterns, the presence of Sr anomalies, and low to moderate transition element contents in the low-P group are consistent with a low-pressure origin as metamorphosed olivine gabbros and troctolites. These metagabbroic high MgO eclogites either could represent the basal section of subducted oceanic crust or foundered mafic lower continental crust. In the former case, the metagabbroic high MgO eclogites may be genetically related to the Koidu low MgO suite. Crystal fractionation trends suggest that the metapyroxenitic high MgO eclogites formed at lower pressures than their current estimated equilibrium pressures (>4 GPa).     

Eclogite-High-Pressure Granulite Belt in Northern Edge of the Archean North China Craton

Ｈｉｇｈ－ｐｒｅｓｓｕｒｅｍｅｔａｍｏｒｐｈｉｃｅｃｌｏｇｉｔｅ,ａｓａｗｉｎｄｏｗｏｆｓｔｕｄｙｆｏｒｄｅｐｔｈｌｅｖｅｌｏｆｌｏｗｅｒｍｏｓｔｃｒｕｓｔａｎｄｍａｎｔｌｅ,ｈａｓａｎｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｔｉｎｄｉｃａｔｉｎｇｓｉｇｎｉｆｉｃａｎｃｅｔ...     

造山带中成对出现的高压麻粒岩与榴辉岩及其地球动力学意义

在一些典型碰撞造山带中,高压麻粒岩与榴辉岩在空间和时间上密切相关,它们之间的关系对揭示碰撞造山带的造山过程和造山机制具有重要意义.本文以中国西部的南阿尔金、柴北缘及中部的北秦岭造山带为例,详细陈述了这3个地区榴辉岩和相关的高压麻粒岩的野外关系、变质演化和形成时代,目的是要建立大陆碰撞造山带中榴辉岩和相关高压麻粒岩形成的地球动力学背景模式.南阿尔金榴辉岩呈近东西向分布在江尕勒萨依,玉石矿沟一带,与含夕线石副片麻岩、花岗质片麻岩和少量大理岩构成榴辉岩一片麻岩单元,榴辉岩中含有柯石英假象,其峰期变质条件为P=2.8～3.0GPa,T=730～850℃,并在抬升过程中经历了角闪岩-麻粒岩相的叠加;大量年代学研究显示其峰期变质时代为485～500Ma.南阿尔金高压麻粒岩分布在巴什瓦克地区,包括高压基性麻粒岩和高压长英质麻粒岩,它们与超基性岩构成了一个大约5km宽的构造岩石单元,与周围角闪岩相的片麻岩为韧性剪切带接触.长英质麻粒岩和基性麻粒岩的峰期组合均具有蓝晶石和三元长石(已变成条纹长石),形成的温压条件为T=930～1020℃,P=1.8～2.5GPa,并在退变质过程中经历了中压麻粒岩相变质作用叠加.锆石SHRIMP测定显示巴什瓦克高压麻粒岩的峰期变质时代为493～497Ma.都兰地区的榴辉岩分布柴北缘HP-UHP变质带的东端,在榴辉岩和围岩副片麻岩中均发现有柯石英保存,形成的峰期温压条件为T=670～730℃和P=2.7～3.25GPa,退变质阶段经过了角闪岩相的叠加;榴辉岩相变质时代为420～450Mao都兰地区的高压麻粒岩分布在阿尔茨托山西部,高压麻粒岩包括基性麻粒岩长英质麻粒岩,基性麻粒岩的峰期矿物组合为Grt+Cpx+Pl±Ky±Zo+Rt±Qtz,长英质麻粒岩的峰期矿物组合为：Grt+Kf+Ky+Pl+Qtz.峰期变质条件为T=800～925℃,P=1.4～1.85GPa,退变质阶段经历了角闪岩-绿片岩的改造,高压麻粒岩的变质时代为420～450Ma.北秦岭榴辉岩分布在官坡-双槐树一带,榴辉岩的峰期变质组合为Grt+Omp±Phe+Qtz+Rt,所计算的峰期温压条件为T=680～770℃和P=2.25～2.65GPa,年代学数据显示榴辉岩的变质时代为500Ma左右.北秦岭高压麻粒岩分布在含榴辉岩单元的南侧松树沟一带,包括高压基性麻粒岩和高压长英质麻粒岩,与超基性岩在空间上密切伴生,高压麻粒岩的峰期温压条件为T=850～925℃,P=1.45～1.80GPa,锆石U-Pb年代学研究显示其峰期变质时代为485～507Ma.以上三个实例显示,出现在同一造山带、在空间上伴生的高压麻粒岩和榴辉岩有各自不同的变质演化历史,但榴辉岩中的榴辉岩相变质时代和相邻的高压麻粒岩中的高压麻粒岩相变质作用时代相同或相近,这种成对出现的榴辉岩和高压麻粒岩代表了它们同时形成在造山带中不同的构造环境中,即榴辉岩的形成于大陆俯冲带中,而高压麻粒岩可能形成在俯冲带之上增厚的大陆地壳根部.     

K — Ar age determinations on phengites from the internal part of the Sesia Zone,Western Alps,Italy

K-Ar age determinations have been carried out on various, well-defined phengite populations from a small area of the internal part of the Sesia Zone, lower Aosta valley. There, the rocks have suffered high-pressure metamorphism, attributed to early Alpine subduction, in the stability field of jadeite + quartz (P15±1 kbar at T=550±50° C). Coarse-grained phengites from well-preserved high-pressure parageneses, and phengites (re)crystallized early during decompression at still elevated temperatures in the stability field of albite, yield identical ages close to 80 Ma. In the most external sample high-pressure phengites yield 72 Ma. The ages around 80 Ma are interpeted as essentially undisturbed cooling ages; they are not notably influenced by paragenesis, chemical composition, polymorphism, grain-size, deformation, and recrystallization at higher temperatures. This part of the Sesia Zone has cooled down about 80 Ma ago to below the blocking temperature for the K-Ar system of white mica. Some of the samples show pronounced retrogression of the high-pressure assemblages, especially formation of albite and fine-grained phengite at the expense of jadeite, and are affected by intense late deformation at temperatures of about 300 to 350° C, estimated from the small grain-size of dynamically recrystallized quartz. The ages obtained from extremely kinked or sheared coarse high-pressure phengites scatter considerably, being partly higher, partly lower than 80 Ma. The fine-grained phengite fractions from these samples yield lowered ages down to 70 Ma. These values are interpreted as mixed ages resulting from variable mixtures of fragmented high-pressure phengites and new phengite replacing jadeite; the K-Ar data suggest that the new phengites have crystallized between 60 and 70 Ma b.p. All phengites formed at low temperatures at the expense of jadeite reveal high Si-contents; these range up to 6.9 for the coarser-grained earlier generations, and up to 6.7 for the very fine-grained last generation. Relatively high pressures are required to stabilize phengites so high in Si. This implies that cooling had not been achieved by uplift and erosion; obviously the thermal structure of the crust was still strongly perturbed by continuing subduction and thrusting during the late Cretaceous.     

Metamorphic evolution of eclogite facies rocks in Northern Hubei and Southern Henan, China

Eclogite fades rocks in this area are diverse in rock type. The field occurrence and rock-chemistry reflect theirin-situ origin. Based on their regional geology and field occurrence, two groups of eclogites are divided in terms of their peak temperature of metamorphism. Medium-temperature eclogites (MT), as Group B, occur in the Dabie Group. They were formed from epidote-amphibolite facies. The metamorphism of eclogite facies has two stages: the coesite eclogite facies stage (the peak condition:T = 600 -700°C,P = 2.7-3.0 GPa) and the glaucophane eclogite facies stage (the pressure decreases, may be lower than 2.5 GPa while the temperature has little change). Low temperature eclogites (LT), as Group C, occur in the Qijiaoshan Formation. They were formed from blue schist facies (the peak condition:T = 490–560°C,P< 1.5 GPa). The appearance of hydrous minerals in the eclogites indicates the important role of water in metamorphism. Medium-temperature eclogites are different from low-temperature ones in metamorphism. At last, the evolution of the high-pressure metamorphic belt is discussed as well. This research project was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 49372100).